Brandy Alexander

Another lovely hot day in San Jose today.  I'm finally beginning to believe that "summer" might exist here in the mountains.  I almost wore a tank top to work today, but decided it was unattractive, and took it off.  Decided NO shirt was more unattractive, and found a t-shirt.  Whew, the drama of getting dressed.

After tutoring this morning, and not having to be Dr. Octopus when we played, I caught the San Pedro bus down to the National Theatre to meet Tammi and Luisa.  What august monument did we choose as our designated meeting place?  The ornate metal gate?  Nope.  We met outside one place that everyone can identify:  McDonald's.  We did choose not to have the classic burger meal, but opted instead for  a Lebanese stall type thing in a type of shopping centre.  It wasn't quite a mall, but it wasn't a real food court either.  It was good, and I'd return.  After that it was time for the main reason for our foray into downtown: an English bookstore.

Now, those of you who have Chapters or Barnes & Noble at your disposal won't think much of this adventure.  Those of you avid readers who have lived in a foreign country and have searched high and low for reading material just might understand.  Here in Costa Rica, English language books, especially novels, are few and far between.  When you do find them, you end up paying twice as much for them as you would at home.  Let me tell you, Tammi has saved me.

I don't know the name of the store, if it has one.  It looks a bit more like a book dump than a planned store, and my fingers were itching to realign piles and alphabetize (I gave in for a few moments)  but it is pleasure in a tiny space.  Here's the deal:  You bring in novels, or any other book you don't want anymore (or could live without - I always want my books) and the man behind the counter  looks at them, and gives you a verbal credit limit.  I brought in 2 books, and he gave me a c2000 credit.  I thought that was total, but after picking out my new/old books, I had a credit of c4000.  I now have a few novels to read, and a beautiful book full of ballet stretches for people who want to get into shape.  The photography is beautiful, and I might use it in class.  And it was only $7.  I love books.

After searching through a few "Ropa Americana" stores (used/unsold clothes imported by the huge box from the States)  Luisa found an ideal piece of clothing to send to her blog-pal who creates something new every day out of something too hideous or out-of-style to wear anymore.  I think this is the blog http://www.newdressaday.com/ , but Luisa can set you straight at her blog  http://lessons-la-frontera.blogspot.com/.  Both interesting reads, anyhow!

We were just about done in, and planning on catching the bus when we passed Roma Caffe.  It's a tiny, pretty classy little place that can't quite decide what it is. It's a restaurant, bar, coffee spot that offers good drinks, live music on the Friday nights and a Sunday brunch, all with an Italian flair.  All of us had expressed an interest in checking it out at some point or another, and so why not?  In we trooped with our used clothing and books, and took up residence at the bar.

We decided we wanted the place to be a bar, and ordered in that manner.  I was hoping to see "Monkey Business" on the menu, but alas.  Then I saw it: Alexander.  I had no idea if I liked Brandy, I know I don't like coffee (I thought creme de cacao would be chocolate. So dumb.)  One of my favorite songs ever is "Brandy Alexander" by Leslie Fiest.  I had to try it, and thankfully, I liked it.  It does "go down easy."

I've added the video I found on Youtube.  It's a good recording, and an interesting video (though one which doesn't seem to have anything to do with the words...)  Ballet and brandy.  Good day.

Freckles

There's a week left before school starts, and I've been working with a little guy in Prep for the past week and a half at school, mainly with English conversation.  He's a smart kid, and we're having fun, even if I have to be Dr. Octopus every time we play Spiderman.  I think I need to watch Spiderman Three, as he keeps referring to himself as black, red and white, all at the same time.  I don't get it.

Today, after we were finished, I was catching up with a few people I hadn't seen since December brought the end of school.  I had been hoping for a comment like, "You're so tanned!"  or  "Wow, you look good with a little colour."  Nope.  I received, "You have freckles! You've been to the beach!"  Thankfully, I think freckles are kind of cute, and I do have many more freckles now than I did in December, so it was completely appropriate.  As I will never pass for stunning or gorgeous, I'd say cute is reasonable.

How did I get the freckles?  They are courtesy of Manuel Antonio, and my aunt and uncle.  Gene and Susan, with Allen and Judy, have been in Costa Rica (and Manuel Antonio) since January 3rd.  They fly home tomorrow, but while they were here I was able to crash their vacation for a number of days.  They stayed in a lovely resort, and spoiled me rotten.  Excellent food, "Spa" hikes, and even deep-sea fishing were all things I was blessed with on top of their company.  I know now that a Monkey Business is a great thing.  Who would have thought that bananas and Baileys would be so good!

I've posted some pictures below of the wildlife we spotted around the villa, and in the National Park.   We saw more birds from our balcony than in the park, and the monkeys were sitting on our chairs down at the beach!  At the bottom is a "video"; It's really just the cover of the album, but I've included it as it is the theme song for Gene and Susan and this holiday.  Highly appropriate, I think.  Life is good today.

Look at all the geckos!

Estelle, our guide, coaxed this hermit crab right out of his shell.

A family of bats

More bats, different family.

Small Blue Heron -- I think.

You can't see it, but he's eating from a chip bag.

Jesu Christo Lizard, but he's too big to walk on water anymore!

Just for Estelle; she had fun pointing out that the Howler monkey is male.

Laughing Falcon

His head is blue; I can't remember his name, but it has something to do with that.

Allen and his Sailfish

Gene and his Sailfish

Late Night Laundry

Why does the laundry always start at 8 o'clock at night?  I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, so I guess I put it off.  However, living in a humid country does not lend itself to dry clothes.  If I want to wear my jeans on Thursday, I have to wash them no later than noon on Tuesday; Monday is better.  Could I put these things in the dryer?  Yes, but having them shrink would be worse than waiting for them to dry.  So tonight I will wait for the washing machine to finish, and I will go to sleep with my laundry hanging in my bedroom, standing fan blowing as fast as I can stand and still sleep.

This is just one of the things I've adapted to here in Costa Rica over the past six months.  I'm not much for New Year's resolutions (I'd really prefer successful goals) but I'd like to try something.  I'm going to use this blog as a sort of log of "Tico" things:  people, events, places and things that, to my mind, could only really exist here in Costa Rica.  I'll be updating soon about my Christmas/Summer holidays, and the camp that I went to.  I'll post some pictures of my new freckles, courtesy of the sun down in Manuel Antonio National Park and my aunt and uncle's visit. I will write more often, rather than every four months.  We have a lot of catching up to do!